Collier County government is considering a local sales tax, a new revenue proposal that could go to the voters for approval in November.

Is the new tax a panacea, a way to solve many problems at once — complete stalled projects, deal with unmet needs, keep Collier County the premier place in which to live?

Or is it just another tax hike, one of many to come, a reward for inefficient government?

Feelings run strong both ways. Proponents say the tax is needed to pay for road extensions and bridge replacements, and to address vocational shortfalls and the housing crisis. Opponents say not all of these projects have to be done right now. Do only the most important ones, they say, and fund them by debt or, better, pay for them out of general funds.

Arcane and confusing? You bet.

Dave Trecker, Collier Citizens Council(Photo: Daily News file)

To clear up the confusion and hear the pros and cons — and there are plenty of both — a group of civic organizations is sponsoring a public forum on the sales tax referendum. It will be held April 17, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Moorings Park. Mark the date on your calendar. The forum is free, first-come, first-served on seating. Experts will debate the issues, no punches pulled.

What is this special sales tax? Here’s some background.

Allowed by state statute, the tax is proposed by local officials and approved by voter referendum. It has tight constraints, limited to a certain dollar amount, with revenues spent on specific capital projects — so much for this one, so much for that one, but no more than the amount allocated for each. The tax is capped at purchases of $5,000 and there are exemptions for groceries and other essentials. And, most important, the tax sunsets after a predetermined period, whether the projects are finished or not.

Everyone seems to be doing it. Sixty-one of Florida’s 67 counties have some form of local sales tax.

The Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce seized on this to deal with unmet needs in the business community. County officials bought into it and compiled a wish list of things to be funded, primarily transportation programs delayed by the recession. It’s estimated 30 percent of the tax would be paid by snowbirds and tourists.

The proposal calls for a 1 percent tax bump over a seven-year period, estimated to generate $490 million in additional funds — $70 million for the cities; $191 million for roads, intersections and bridges; $139 million for new facilities and capital replacements, and $90 million for community priorities.

The devil, as always, is in the details. There are a ton of unanswered questions:

• Why raise taxes now, in 2018?

• Who would oversee the projects and ensure the money was properly directed?

• Is there really an immediate need for all of the infrastructure spending?

• Why not, instead, stay within the existing budget and build the highways and bridges over a longer period of time?

• Why is only $60 million allocated for workforce housing, vocational training and more mental health facilities — arguably the county’s most pressing needs?

• Why raise taxes for things like air conditioning and new roofs for government buildings?

• Why allocate $30 million for a veterans nursing home when there’s no certainty it will even be located here?

Voters will want answers to these and other questions if, as expected, the proposal goes to referendum in the fall.

Plan to join us — the Collier Citizens Council, League of Women Voters, Naples Press Club, Collier County Presidents Council, Greater Naples Leadership and Greater Naples Better Government Committee — and learn more about this controversial tax.

Galton and Trecker, both of Naples, are members of the Collier Citizens Council, an alliance of civic and community leaders.

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